May 22, 2025

SALES DOWN AND VALUES UP IN APRIL:

In a press release to the media today, Maine home sales decreased -0.74% comparing April 2025 to April 2024. The median sales price (MSP) was $400,000, a 4.44% increase in that same time period. NAR reports that existing home sales were down and prices up nationally, Sales volume remained unchanged and prices were up in the northeast, comparing April 2025 to April 2024. Read the full release here.

LOCAL REALTORS® OF THE YEAR ANNOUNCED: 

Congratulations to these recently announced 2025 local REALTORS® of the Year!

-Greater Bangor Area Association of REALTORS®: Emilie Bronson Blair (Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate The Masiello Group; Bangor) 

-York County Council of the Maine Association of REALTORS®: Catie Seavey (Portside Real Estate Group; Kennebunk)

FUTURE MAR OFFICERS: 

The MAR Nominating Committee meets in June to recommend potential candidates for future Maine Association of REALTORS® officer positions (President-Elect and First Vice President). If you are interested in learning more and presenting your qualifications to the committee for consideration, please email Suzanne before June 2 for copies of the candidate information questionnaire and outlines of officer responsibilities. Thank you!

MAINE CEMETERY PRESERVATION COMMISSION:

Maine law established the Maine Cemetery Preservation Commission in late-2022. The Commission’s role is to educate municipalities and property owners about the existence of burying grounds and cemeteries and the applicable laws, advise how to properly care for and preserve graves and gravestones, and to review laws applicable to burying grounds and cemeteries and provide information to the Legislature on recommended changes. The Commission has recently developed a website of resources: Check it out here!

Thank you, Julie Cromwell, REALTOR® for representing Maine’s real estate industry on the Commission!

LUNCH AND LEARN: POWERFUL DATA AND AI TOOLS FOR REALTORS®.JUNE 18:

Expand your real estate expertise with RPR's property data tools, all included in your NAR membership. Our no-cost RPR webinar on June 18 from 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. will guide you through RPR’s features designed to enhance your business operations. At this session, learn how to: conduct in-depth property research effortlessly, access valuable market trends and insights, integrate AI tech to create impressive client reports with ease, and more! Discover how RPR can boost your real estate business!

LAST CALL - MREC NOTICE OF RULEMAKING:

The Maine Real Estate Commission has announced a Notice of Agency Rulemaking with proposed amendments to the following chapters:

·       CHAPTER 300: Commission Meetings

·       CHAPTER 340: Complaints and Investigations

·       CHAPTER 350: Adjudicatory Hearings

·       CHAPTER 360: Approval of Qualifying Education Courses

·       CHAPTER 370: Continuing Education

·       CHAPTER 390: Licensing Procedures and Requirements for Individuals and Agencies

·       CHAPTER 400: Real Estate Brokerage Agency and Designated Broker Responsibilities

·       CHAPTER 410: Minimum Standards of Practice

Click here for detailed information including mark-ups (102 pages)

Written comment deadline is May 27, 2025 at 5:00 p.m.

Additional details are on page 3 in the notice. 

MAINE REALTOR® MAGAZINE DELIVERY PREFERENCE:

Maine REALTOR® Magazine is mailed to your office address unless you update your Communication Preference in the Maine Association of REALTORS® membership database.

To update your “Communication Preference”:

1)   Login to the Maine Association of REALTORS® RAMCO portal link

2)   Help info is on the top and side of the portal sign-in screen.

3)   Click on the “Update Your Member Profile” in the blue box (upper left)

4)   Note the five sections on the left to update (Main, Home Address, Mailing Address, Personal, Communication Preferences)

• 5)   Update your information in each section and be sure to click on Save at the bottom of each section.

MEMORIAL DAY:

Memorial Day is an American holiday, observed on the last Monday of May, honoring the women and men who died while serving in the U.S. military. Originally known as Decoration Day, it originated in the years following the Civil War and became an official federal holiday in 1971. Let us remember and honor those who gave the ultimate sacrifice during their loyal service to our country.

HOLIDAY HOURS: 

The MAR and Maine Listings offices will be closed on Monday, May 26 for the Memorial Day holiday. The Maine Listings Member Success Team will monitor the systems and Help Desk email over the holiday weekend. If you notice any issues, please email help@mainelistings.com

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